Towel rack



. May 20, 1930. w s MONROE 1,759,319

TOWEL RACK Filed July 7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5; 1 6 fiZewme.

W. S. MONROE 1 v TOWEL RACK May 20, 1930.

Filed July '7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \IIL l ,T 72057 03706, MAJ/Mud w.

Patented May 20, 1930 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM s. MONROE, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS TOWEL RACK, I

Application filed July 7, 1928, Serial i1 0. 291,051.

This invention relates totowel racks and has to do particularly with a towel rack adapted for attachment to a radiator for the purpose of employing the support afforded by theradiator' for holding the towels or other articles without a rackseparately attached to the wall, and for the additional purpose of utilizing the heat from the radiator for drying and keeping the towel dry at mall times. t s K I j j I am aware that drying racks have been previously attached to radiators for the purpose of utilizing the heat from the radiator for drying articles suspended from the rack,

but the racks of this sort heretofore provided have beenmore in the nature of clothes racks, which are not usually'in constant use, but are set up for drying small wa'shingsand taken down or removed when not in use. Where 120 the device is not ordinarily in place, but is set up froni time to time, the appearance has been a secondary matter and attractiveness of the attachment when in place has hadlittle attention. The wash itself'is unsightly when in" place and no manner of improving the appearance of'thei rack would overcome this. In addition, in the previous racks the clothes have usually been suspended over the top of the radiatorin order to obtainthe necessary drying effect. This overhead arrangement isnot only particularly unsightly but it requiresan'overhead clearance above the radiator: and'impairs movement about the room when .the rack is in'place, which'where the rack isset up infrequently and only for short periods of time has been tolerated. It isnow common to provide a cover or shield overthe top of the'radiator which will interfere with access to the tops of the radiator coils for 40 the purpose-of attachingan overhead rack thereto.

The object of my present 'inventionis the provision of a generally improved and simplifiedrack of pleasing appearance which is used in much the manner of the fixe'd rod towel racks, now usually attached to the wall as distinguished from a cumbersome clothes rack which is set up and taken downfrom time to time. 'The present rack is in constant position for use, although the attachment provided therefore is preferably detachable so that the rack may be conveniently applied and removed as, for example, upon the termie nation of the tenancy of the premises. The rack is preferably so attached thatit holds the towel or other article in front of the radiator and preferably below thetop of the radiator to avoid interference with a cover or shield therefor, although this may vary. The device isprimarily a towel support so that the overhead drying effect is not necessaryyet, at the same time, if the towel or other article is damp orwet the h'eatfrom the radiator will dryit. The disposition of the towel or other article in front .of the radiator and "preferably parallel thereto makes for compactness and avoids impairment to movement about theroom. 'lnv additionjjthis disposition in front ofthe radiatorhas the further and important function of forming a protector or shield for preventing accidental direct contact with a hot radiator coil. The support upon the radiator eliminates the necessity ofseparate or addi-. F

tional supports or wall brackets, as welllas any possibility of marringthe walljbyset} ting up and taking down such brackets; and the present device may be applied without becoming a part of the premises; Q, Q]. The invention is illustrated in the "accompanying drawings, in which: f Fig. 1 is a fragmentaryperspective view of a radiator showing'a rack embodyingthe present invention appliedthereto;

' Fig; 2 is a front elevationof the attachment and rod supporting fitting" at one end ft a ka V Fig. 3' is anjouter side elevation of the attachment andirod supporting fitting shown in Fig. 2; and 7 Fig. dis a horizontal sectiont ake n' 'on' the lirieL-kofcFig. I r I f R ferring to the drawings, I have shown more or less illustratively at 5a radiator to which the present invention is adapted to be applied; The radiator may be a steam, hot water or other radiatorand it may be ofexisting or preferred form usually comprising tions-o'r coils 6, as well'understood'.

a plurality of spaced, uprig t or vertical sec- 103 I The rack comprisesa rod or supporting member and a duplicate pair of attach- I ment and rod supporting brackets or fittings 12, 12, one at each of the opposite ends of the rod or supporting member 10. Each fitting l2 comprises an outwardly extending arm13 preferably of channel formation, as shown for strength. At the inner end of the arm 12 is a base 14: which'is preferably integral with the arm 13 and preferably in the form of a closed end for the channel formation of the arm, althoughthis may be varied. The base let 1s apertured at 15 and its inner surface is formed.

at 16 to fit between and engage the walls of two adjacent coils or sections 6 of the radiator 5. p

with ahead 18 which is preferably formed integral witli'the arm 13. lower generally horizontal flanges ofthe channel arm 13 preferablyconverge at 20 toward the head 18.. The head 18 is in the at its opposite end in the corresponding head form. ofa generally spherical hollow shell providedwith an opening 21 for receiving and supporting one end; of the towel supporting member 10, which member is preferably in the form of arod circular in cross section and telescoping at one end through the opening 21- and into the hollow head'18 of one of.

the arms or brackets 12 and similarly engaged of the other arm or bracket 12. Q 7

Each arm 13 has an associated clamping member 25. The clamping members 25 are formed similar to the bases lL of the arms 13 and engage between and at 26 wit-lithe walls of acent coils or sections 6 of the radiator 5. Each clamping member 25 has an aperture 28 which registers with the aperture 15 in the base 14 of'the associated arm 13 and a suitable bolt 30 is passed through the registering apertures 15 and 28 and is engaged in a nut 32 which is drawn up to draw the base 14 and clamping member 25 into firm holding ell-- gagement with the radiator sections to clamp the supporting bracket or arm firmly thereto.

' From the foregoing it will now be apparent that the arms 13, 13 extend substantially horizontally fromthe front of the radiator and support the rod 10in front ofthe radiator and substantially parallel therewith. This makes for compactness and there are no overhead obstructions to impair movement about, the room or render the radiator unsightly. The towels or other articlesmay be supported upon, the rod 10 by folding them thereover in the usual manner and are there by supported in front of the radiator and generally parallel therewith. The extension from the front of the radiator need not be great, which makes for further compactness and the disposition of the towels or other articles, in front of the radiator this manner, has the important function of forming a protector or shield for preventing burning V 7 preferred material. At itsouter end the arm 13 is provided The upper and or injury to the occupants of the room by accidental direct contact 'with the front of a, hot radiator coil or section. The device is adapted to be positioned constantly in front of the radiator and to serve asa towel rack, as

distingnlshed from cumbersome extending clothes racks which are set up for use and removed when notinuse. At the same time if the towel or other article is damp or wet the heat from the radiator will dry it. The brackets or fittings 12,12, together with the clamping members 25 and bolts 30 may be nickeled or finished, asdesired, and the'rod ends 18 of the arms 13'before both arms 13 are attached to the radiator and the attach-' ment of these arms to theradiator is then completed.

tov receive the adjacent end of the rod 10 after both arms. or brackets are attached to the radi- Obviously, one of the headed 7 ends 18 of one 'of the arms 13 may be formed 7 ator and such a, departure from the disclosed I structure is contemplated within the'spirit and scope of the present invention.

Iclaim '1. Ina towel bar a, radiator, the combination of a pair of one- 7 10o fixture for attachment to,

piece brackets each having a clamping base at one end adapted to fit between the coils-of a radiator with, an integral hollow head at the opposite end. of each bracket, said heads each. hav ng a lateral opening in one side of the wall thereof, a securing means. passing through each of said bases, said heads each being offset to permit of accessibility to said securing means, a bar disposed across the front ofthe radiator with its respective ends extending through said openings and supported. directly inthe walls of said hollow bracket heads, t-he respective endslof, said bar cooperating directly withthe walls of the hol- 7 low bracket heads. opposite the lateral open.- ings. of eachand held against endwise displacement thereby, and, means cooperating with said .securingmeans forattaching the brackets to the radiat or coilsp 2. Ina towel bar fixturejforattachment to a a radiator, the combinationof a pair of one-v piece brackets eachhaving a' clamping base at one end adapted to. fit betweenth-e coils of a radiator with an. integral hollow head at theopposite end of each bracket, said heads each having a. lateral opening in oneside of the wall thereof, a securing meanspassing through each of said bases, said heads each being offset to permit of accessibility to said securing means, a bar disposed across the front of the radiator with its respective ends extending through said openings and supported directly in the walls of said hollowbracket heads, the respective ends of said bar cooperating directly with the walls of the h0l-. low bracket heads opposite the lateral open.- ings of each and held against endwise disw placement thereby, and means cooperating with said securing means for attaching the brackets to the radiator coils, said integral hollow bracket heads being relatively small with respect to the diameter of said bar to minimize the extensions of the ends of the bar internally through said heads from one side of each head to the other.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th day of June, 1928.

2a WILLIAM S. MONROE. 

